Compare towns

Bow vs Ripton vs Windham vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has the most renters (12.5% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureBowRiptonWindhamBrookline
People
Population
8,335
508Lowest
16,038Highest
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.2±1.5
6% above U.S.
Ripton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16k
114% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kLowest
40% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$171,046±$4k
112% above U.S.
Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$544,400±$38k
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
—
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$2,500±$1k
77% above U.S.
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1993
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #26 of 120 in NH — #13 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Windham School District Brookline School District
High school in town Bow High School None in town Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
—
12.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.